KatieLeigh79....any contractions yet???

MommyToAshley wrote: I'm getting anxious here. LOL

KatieLeigh79 replied: *bangs head in wall* No I figure this little one will keep itself there until the max the Dr. said she will let me go (June 15th) - any other ideas? i have a running list of things i tried and so far no luck *g* i know they will appear when good and ready but every day i get up and go "okay today will be the day" and low and behold - we go to bed the same night with no change - *laugh* By the time this is over with as fast as the Dr. said its growing i should have myself a huge 12lb baby or something silly along those lines! (assuming shes right)

CantWait replied: I'm hugging it out of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kit_kats_mom replied: have you lost your "baby cap" (mucous plug, DH started calling it a baby cap because the real name grossed him out) yet? I lost half of mine one day then I went shopping that day...lots of walking around the mall. I lost the rest that eve and went into labor the next morning.

Hugs..I know how uncomfortable those last few days can be. I also know how excited you are to meet your new addition! It's so hard















(subliminal message)
go to sleep now...get lots of sleep....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz



Cary

KatieLeigh79 replied: Well went in for my 38 week exam today found out im already 1 cm (sounds so good but god that can still take up to 4 weeks) the Dr. wanted to try and strip my membranes and see if she couldn't get him/her out before the 28th but the head was 1/4 an inch to high up to do that at this time, though when she reached in and pushed on the head the baby pushed back so im thinking it won't be to much longer - should i just let this little one do what it wants and not be willing to let her do this or? My doula is wonderful and it concerns her that she wants to try to get this little one organized and out this soon but she can only give me facts either way and not tell me what to do - anyone know if this type of procedure (assuming i can have it done next week) is a good idea or just let the little one go until it makes its own terms?


So many things to consider...

Schnoogly replied: Are you group b strep positive? If so I would skip the stripping of membranes--it can introduce infection into the sac.

Just MHO.

Steph

PS Aren't doulas awesome??? I was so glad to have mine.

supermom replied: Does she give you a reason for wanting to have your baby make an appearance before 40 weeks? I would be a little skeptical of anyone wanting to rush mother nature unless there was some sort of medical indication as to 'forcing' the delivery. I know you are getting impatient, and I also know that it's hard to wait, but pregnancy, even if going on 42 weeks, is still considered in the normal range. In some cases, though, there is medical indications to try to have that hurried (pre-eclampsia, toxemia, large baby, etc, etc)....are any of these present, or is this just a 'conveniece' for your doctor? Just wondering..... and not trying to make your mind up, but still makes me a bit leery

KatieLeigh79 replied: Tested for the strep and that was negative she has another woman at 41 weeks atm and im wondering if she isnt trying to get me to "go" before this other mother (a woman on her 3rd so she knows the drill ) I just don't want to make a decision that can harm this little one - she started out at first telling me that it was bigger, and as of today she was just telling me that it was "ready" if i wanted to meet them early - the girl im working with is really cool and very reasonable shes doing it all for $200 while she tries to get what she needs to become a midwife so i totally trust her but she said she wants to send me some things in email to read before next thursday if the baby stays there that long - and shes also sending me a book to tell me how to deal with delivery and not having my mother around she thinks thats going to be a concern to because i tend to freak out in hospitals Anyone who's ever had that done how bad does it hurt? She said it hurts worse then the Dr. was letting on etc.. and its really making me leary .

Thanks for all the advice!

MamaMartie replied: {{{Katie}}} Waiting can be so hard to do, especially when you're wainting for a new baby. I always found that walking or climbing stairs helped when I was already dialted. I ahd my mebranes strippedwith baby #2 once and wouldn't do that again b/c it hurt more than any other thing done for that birth. But then again I am a wimp when it comes to pain. Personally I think I'd try herbs before I let anyone strip my membranes. I don't think much will work unless you've started to dialte and efface. Those are key to "getting things started." If you are "thick and tight" nothing is going to help.

So if nothing is happening "down there" I suggest going to get a manicure and a pedicure. More than likely just making the appt will get the little baby to come out, if only to get you to miss your appt. And if he'she doen't come out before the appt..think how pretty your hands and feet will be.

KatieLeigh79 replied: *laugh* i should try it ! Its now almost 39 weeks - and its driving me insane - the Dr as well as my Doula has said i should try to get DH "involved" after asking many times he finally lost it and we had a nice little falling out last night and im not planning on asking for anything of the sort now for the next 18 years I know that this "little one" as they are calling it will do its thing in its own time, but i feel great! I've been doing everything i can to stay busy and every time i get up at night to use the bathroom its like "oh please let this be the start of something!" and it never is.. I go back in this Thursday and i promised everyone i wouldnt let them strip me .. though even with high pain its starting to sound more worth it then waiting another 2 weeks ... Though now comes the time when all i do is sit and wonder what its going to be like with a little one - people tell me the first 6 weeks is the hardest point in your life because they are pretty helpless and your still learning and have no idea what is the right way to do anything.. so i guess i will go back to staying busy and hope maybe it just decides its time - I really don't want to try any type of "herbs" or anything because im not out to harm the little one already just coax it out!

+Zemirah+ replied: Katie... Sweetie I hope I don't offend you with what I'm going to write... but I care and I want to write anyway, even at the risk of offending you. Please, PLEASE just relax Hunny and let baby come when he/she is ready to. I do know it can be hard but there is just no reason to push baby along and (I hate to say this but) *if* you are very well-nourished, and -- aren't you a first time mom?? -- if so, you can and will most likely go 40-42 weeks, left to your own devices. Very well-nourished moms tend to carry longer And that's GOOD! (and no -- this is not an incentive for you to start fasting, roflol! J/K )

Please understand when I say that the more you allow your body the time to be ready to birth, and the more READY for birth your body is before you kick into good labor, the better the entire birth experience will go for you. I am with your doula. If the doc breaks your water while the head is high yet, and you are lying in bed, the umbilical cord can slip down next to baby's head and cause distress, leading to an auto c-section (I know, stripping the membranes is NOT the same -- I realize that... just throwing out other procedures docs will use to get a mama moving when she just plain IS NOT READY to birth). I will ask on one of my other boards (which includes moms of many, doulas, some midwives etc.) for info on stripping the membranes. I have had this done while in labor (after four days of early labor warm-up that got me 100% effaced and 3-4 cm dilated) and it kicked me off into a good labor pattern immediately -- BUT I too am worried at your doctors anxiousness to get things moving along with you. I also have to say -- okay -- you have a doula for a reason, Honey. USE her. Let her be the advocate for you that she is wanting to be, and should be. That's why you have her on your support team. A doctor has ulterior motives, COMPLETELY, to be trying to induce you for what appears to be no real reason and at 38-39 weeks. That baby is not likely to be so big you cannot birth it -- do you have an inadequately sized pelvis? If the doc didn't tell you so when you very first went in pregnant and had a pelvic exam, then you likely do not have an inadequately sized pelvis. Again -- your doula can and will help you remember to change positions during labor and get into the best position to birth your baby, to help you deal with labor and birth, even if baby is larger than you think you might be able to handle.

I hope my words encourage you and don't discourage you. I would be very leery of that doc. Your doula is YOUR advocate, in the face of a doctor who must protect his/her own behind and is looking our for his/her own interests, and also in the midst of the nursing staff who will be primarily concerned with the hospital protocol and covering ITS behind.

Hugs,

KatieLeigh79 replied: Okay I promise i won't let them do anything they don't have to I guess i should just enjoy this while i can because im guessing in a few weeks here i won't be able to tell you night from day

MommyToAshley replied:
This is true...but it will be sooooo worth it!

Hugs! It won't be long now...just hang in there!